I love Holy Week. Not only is it the perfect time to reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made for us, but it’s also amazing to see my brothers and sisters in Christ share spiritual inspiration on social media.

This year I dove into John, read devotionals leading up to Easter, and looked at historical accounts to gain insight on what Holy Week was during Jesus’s time, and why we should educate ourselves on it.

I have so many emotions running through me thinking about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I’m saddened and I want to jump up and down in joy, at the same time. The word that always comes to my mind is grateful. I’m so grateful for the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

My heart aches when Jesus experienced such severe anxiety while praying to his Father that he physically sweated blood.

My heart aches thinking of Jesus standing before a crowd as they mocked him, yelling “crucify him!” over, and over again.

My heart aches as Jesus was tortured, humiliated, and forced upon a cross to die a slow and painful death while onlookers encouraged it.

The saddest part of it all, is that we were part of this crowd. We may not have physically been there when Jesus was being crucified, but our sin put him there.

Isaiah 53:5 says, “but he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

Jesus cried out with his final breath, and the world turned dark. It was finished.

I can’t imagine what it must have been like to be a believer right after Jesus was crucified. I imagine Christ’s followers were devastated and scared.

They were scared and mourning the loss of their teacher, but that heartache didn’t last forever. Sunday came, and Jesus arose.

Imagine the joy experienced by the women all those years ago when they went to Jesus’s tomb and found it empty. They were probably scared yet overjoyed when they realized their Savior had risen from the grave.

Friday was the darkest day in history, but it could not compare to the Light that was shown on Sunday morning.

 This is where my eyes were really opened. Jesus didn’t die an insignificant death. Jesus didn’t die so that we could doubt our existences. Jesus didn’t die so that we could wonder if we are worthy.

Jesus died so that we didn’t have to pay the price of sin, to show us our worth, and to spend forever with us.

Our sin was nailed upon the cross, and we are free from our bondage.

So, believers. This is why we need to celebrate now more than ever. Jesus is alive and we are free to have a relationship with him, free to worship him, and free to spend all of eternity in Heaven with our Father.